EPK Staff To Receive A 14% General Wage Increase in Updated CBA

More than 8,000 Eastern Produce Kenya (EPK) staff members are set to enjoy a 14% wage increase following the signing of an updated Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU).

The updated CBA will give EPK staff a 7% general wage increase this year, backdated to January 2026, with a further 7% increase next year.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, EPK Company Director Leah Kibii Chirchir said the company continues to prioritise staff welfare as part of its corporate strategy.

Flanked by KPAWU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, Mrs Chirchir described the company’s staff welfare plans as deliberate shared prosperity initiatives. The company, she added, recognises the important role its employees play in sustaining its operations and delivering quality Kenyan tea to markets around the world.

“Our employees are at the heart of our business. Every day, through their dedication and hard work, they contribute to EPK’s success and the quality of the tea we produce. We therefore welcome this review as an important step towards supporting the welfare and livelihoods of workers in the agricultural sector,” said Ms Chirchir.

On his part, Atwoli, while acknowledging the difficult operating market for tea growers and other agricultural firms, singled out EPK as one of the leading industrial relations compliant players in the sector.

Said Atwoli, “At KPAWU, we recognise the role large tea growers such as EPK are playing in national development, especially in the employment sector. As their industrial relations partner, we shall continue to extend our support for such partners.”

Mrs Chirchir reiterated that EPK remains committed to all its stakeholders and goes beyond statutory requirements.

The company will continue to work closely with relevant stakeholders to implement the revised wage requirements while maintaining its focus on sustainable operations, quality production, and the wellbeing of its employees.

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